Types of Rubber and Their Essential Properties

Characteristics

Upper temperature aging limits - heat aging resistance Chemical resistance and concentration

Chemical resistance and temperature

Mechanical properties and temperature:
Butyl rubber, a fairly non-resilient material at room temperature can have a significant higher resilience at 80 "C.

Grades within a type of rubber

All synthetic (and natural) raw gum elastomers have subdivisions within their own family.

Natural rubber NR
Production of natural Rubber
NR is tapped from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) as latex. Latex is a colloidal dispersion of solid particles of polymer polyisoprene in water and dry rubber content in the emulsion is about 30%

Chemical structure of natural rubber

Natural rubber NR
Available

in many grades related to its dirt content and precise method of production. Popular grades are ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) and technically specified rubber such as SVR (Standard Vietnamese Rubber)

Addition of carbon black to a compound gives resistance to UV, antiozonants Antiozonants and waxes support ozone resistance.

Ozone attack is of most concern for thin products and those that are subjected to stretching during service.

 Electrical

insulation is very good and, like all elastomers, depends on compounding. Resistance to petroleum oils is poor Resistance to alcohols (such as ethanol and methanol) and ketones (such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and acetone) is much better

 20,

cleaner the grade, and therefore the more expensive Specialized grade known as SMR CV with consistent viscosity control of NR (constant viscosity) is available. This grade has 0.15% of a hydroxylamine salt added to prevent a cross-linking.

50: the lower the number, the

Styrene butadiene rubber SBR

Styrene butadiene rubber SBR

From petroleum oil There are many subgroups of the raw gum elastomer In comparison with natural and CR, gum vulcanizates made from SBR have poor mechanical properties therefore must have reinforcing fillers such as carbon black

The properties of SBR are broadly similar to NR, for chemical, solvent, and weather resistance. The upper temperature heat aging resistance limit is a little higher.

Polychloroprene CR

Polychloroprene CR
Known as Neoprene More specialized than the two previous elastomers (oil and weather resistance) Ability to retard flame Resistance to dilute acids and bases is better than that of NR or SBR

Nitrile Rubber NBR

Nitrile Rubber NBR

Known as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, Buna-N and simply nitrile Oil resistant properties The higher the amount of ACN in the elastomer, the better the oil resistance The weather resistance of NBR is poor, similar to NR and SBR

Better heat aging resistance than CR and is in the region of 1070C for continuous use.
Needs reinforcing fillers. Poor resistance to polar liquids such as ketones, esters, chlorinated solvents, and many aromatic solvents such as benzene and toluene

Ethylene propylene rubber EPM and EPDM

EPM

is a copolymer consisting of ethylene and propylene units as part of the main polymer chain. It can be cross-linked with peroxides or radiation but not sulfur

Ethylene propylene diene terpolymerEPDM

Unaffected by weather with very good resistance to ozone Upper 'continuous heat aging temperature limits in air, anywhere from 1260C to around 1500C

Low temperature flexibility is very good and even better when compare with NR. Very poor oil resistance. Resistance to a number of concentrated mineral acids and bases is significantly better than that of NR or SBR Excellent electrical resistance of EPDM

Butyl rubber IIR

Butyl rubber IIR and halobutyl rubber CllR and BllR

Some properties similar to those of EPDM. Good mineral acid and base resistance. Good weather resistance (similar to that of EPDM). Excellent resistance to gase permeability Poor resistance to petroleum oils

Upper continuous heat aging temperature limit is around 1210 C degree. Applications for vibration and shock prevention, roof and tank linings, curing bladders and inner tubes for tires. Halobutyls can be blended with unsaturated elastomers such as NR, whereas for IIR it is not recommended

Silicone rubber
MQ = Methyl-Polysiloxane VMQ = Vinyl-Methyl-Polysiloxane PMQ = Phenyl-Methyl-Polysiloxane PVMQ = Phenyl-Vinyl-MethylPolisiloxane

Silicone rubber
Most elastomers have a carbon main chain, while Q (Quaternary group) has a silicone oxygen backbone. The best elastomers for both high and low temperature resistance (540C and 2000C for general purpose compounds and -1150C and 2600C for special compounds)

Silicone rubber
Excellent ozone, weather resistance and electrical insulation. Low tensile strength, poor tear strength and little wear resistance. Applications include aerospace, medical, food contact, and automotive ignition cable.

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber HNBR (HSN)

New elastomer - first appearance in 1984 Very good weather and abrasion. resistance, plus good mechanical strength. Used in oilfields where it has resistance to amine corrosion inhibitors and better hydrogen sulfide resistance than NBR. Peroxide cured HNBR has heat aging resistance up to 1500C.

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene CSM

Best known as Hypalon. Excellent ozone, acid, and weathering resistance. Oil and heat aging resistance.

Urethane rubber

Produced by reacting a diisocyanate (TDI, MDI) with either a polyether polyol (1,4-butanediol) or a polyester polyol (from adipic acid and ethylene glycol)

Low molecular weigth polyols produced hard polymers. High molecular weith polyols give soft polymers. High tensile strength and abrasion. resistance combined with good oil and tear resistance.